Choosing between the LG C3 OLED TV and the Samsung QN90A LCD TV comes down to a few important considerations:
The LG C3 offers superior contrast and black levels, making it exceptional for watching movies and ideal for viewing in dark rooms. It also has a wider viewing angle, which is great for gatherings.
The Samsung QN90A shines in bright-room viewing due to its higher brightness capabilities. If you watch a lot of TV during the day in a sunny room, this might be the better option. Moreover, while it's also good for gaming, it may not match the LG C3's performance in this area.
Both are premium-priced, offering high-quality experiences with subtle differences in performance and suitability for different viewing environments. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the LG C3 (OLED)
Excellent for dark room
Excellent for gaming
Excellent for movies & TV
Very good for sports
Excellent for news, talk, & other TV
Excellent for use as monitor
Best in class viewing angle
Best in class reflections
Advantages of the Samsung QN90A (LCD)
Best in class for bright room
Key differences
Picture Quality
9.0/10
8.1/10
10.00/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
8.1/10
COLOR VOLUME SCORE
8.2/10
WOLED
PANEL TYPE
miniLED FALD
WBE
PANEL SUB-TYPE
VA
The LG C3 (OLED) has excellent picture quality, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) has very good picture quality.
Movies & TV
9.2/10
8.0/10
10.00/10
CONTRAST
7.00/10
10.0/10
BLACK UNIFORMITY
7.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Yes
HDR10 SUPPORT
Yes
No
HDR10+ SUPPORT
Yes
Yes
DOLBY VISION SUPPORT
No
The LG C3 (OLED) is excellent for movies & TV, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good.
The LG C3 OLED excels in movies and cinematic TV thanks to its perfect black uniformity and superior contrast and local dimming capabilities, which are inherent advantages of OLED technology, providing an immersive viewing experience. Meanwhile, the Samsung QN90A LCD, although very good for such content, cannot match the OLED's performance in these areas but compensates with its impressive brightness, which can be more suitable in well-lit environments.
Sports
8.5/10
7.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
Yes
HLG SUPPORT
Yes
The LG C3 (OLED) is very good for sports, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is good.
The LG C3 OLED boasts superior viewing angles and response time which are crucial for a clear and consistent sports watching experience, especially in groups. On the other hand, the Samsung QN90A LCD has an excellent handling of reflections, which makes it a better fit for rooms with lots of light but offers narrower viewing angles and slightly slower response time.
Gaming
9.0/10
8.3/10
10.0/10
RESPONSE TIME SCORE
8.3/10
10.0/10
INPUT LAG SCORE
10.0/10
8.0/10
MOTION PROCESSING
8.0/10
100.0/100
GAMING LOCAL DIMMING
70.0/100
8.0/10
GAME HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
The LG C3 (OLED) is excellent for gaming, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good.
The LG C3 OLED is superior for gaming primarily due to its exceptional response time, which is the best in its class, ensuring that motion appears very smooth and there's virtually no blur behind fast-moving objects. Additionally, both the LG C3 OLED and the Samsung QN90A LCD have the lowest input lag possible, making them highly responsive to gaming inputs, but the OLED technology inherently offers better performance in terms of response time compared to the LCD's very good response time.
Bright Room
8.3/10
9.7/10
9.5/10
VIEWING ANGLE
6.5/10
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
8.0/10
HDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.3/10
10.0/10
REFLECTIONS SCORE
9.0/10
The Samsung QN90A (LCD) is best in class for bright room, while the LG C3 (OLED) is very good.
The LG C3 OLED provides very good SDR and HDR brightness suitable for bright rooms, along with the best reflections handling, yet its lower brightness capacity compared to LCD may reduce visibility under intense ambient lighting. The Samsung QN90A LCD, on the other hand, offers excellent SDR and HDR brightness levels that outperform many OLEDs in well-lit conditions and very good reflections handling, making it superior for viewing in exceptionally bright environments.
Cost
$2,000
$1,470
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The LG C3 (OLED) has a price of $2,000 and the Samsung QN90A (LCD) costs $1,470.
The LG C3 (OLED) and Samsung QN90A (LCD) are both very good for cartoons & animation.
The LG C3 (OLED) delivers very good colors out of the box and has a color gamut that enhances the vibrancy and variety of hues in cartoons, with superior contrast and excellent gray uniformity that keep cartoon images crisp, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) with its best score for colors out of the box and a good color gamut provides lively and accurate colors, complemented by high SDR brightness that makes it well-suited for rooms with more ambient light.
News, Talk, & Other TV
9.0/10
8.9/10
8.0/10
SDR BRIGHTNESS SCORE
9.4/10
8.0/10
UPSCALING
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG C3 (OLED) to be excellent for news, talk, & other TV, while the Samsung QN90A (LCD) is very good.
The LG C3 excels in upscaling and has excellent colors out of the box, an important aspect for natural and vibrant viewing of everyday programs. In contrast, the Samsung QN90A has higher SDR brightness, making it a better option for well-lit rooms, though it is slightly behind in local dimming performance compared to the LG C3.
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How the LG C3 (OLED) and the Samsung QN90A (LCD) compare to other TVs
Spec Comparison
LG C3 (OLED)
Samsung QN90A (LCD)
GENERAL
Price
Price
$2,000
$1,470
Brand
Brand
LG
Samsung
Release Date
Release Date
April 3, 2023
February 4, 2021
Full name
Full name
OLED65C3
QN65QN90A
Screen Size
Screen Size
65"
65"
Screen Resolution
Screen Resolution
4K
4K
Screen Type
Screen Type
OLED
LCD
Screen Sub-type
Screen Sub-type
WOLED WBE
miniLED FALD VA
Smart TV
Smart TV
Yes
Yes
TV FEATURES
Operating System
Operating System
webOS
Tizen
Sound Quality Score
Sound Quality Score
8/10
8.3/10
NextGen Ready
NextGen Ready
No
Yes
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
4
4
Coax Ports
Coax Ports
1
1
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
HDR Supported formats
HDR Supported formats
HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
HDR10, HDR10+, HLG
Accessibility
Accessibility
Voice Commands
None
DISPLAY QUALITY SCORES
Picture Quality Score
Picture Quality Score
9/10
8.2/10
Bright Room Score
Bright Room Score
8.3/10
9.8/10
Gaming Score
Gaming Score
9/10
8.4/10
Movies & TV Score
Movies & TV Score
9.2/10
8.1/10
Sports Score
Sports Score
8.5/10
7/10
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
News, Talk, & Other TV Score
9.1/10
9/10
Cartoons & Animation Score
Cartoons & Animation Score
8.9/10
8.8/10
Use as Monitor Score
Use as Monitor Score
9.1/10
8.2/10
PHYSICAL
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
Dimensions w/o Stand (H x W x D)
32.5" x 56.7" x 1.8"
32.6" x 56.9" x 1"
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
Dimensions with Stand (H x W)
34.6" x 56.7"
35.2" x 56.9"
Weight without Stand
Weight without Stand
36.6 lbs
53.8 lbs
VESA Mount
VESA Mount
300 x 200
400 x 300
DISPLAY
Color Depth
Color Depth
10 bit
10 bit
Black Frame Insertion
Black Frame Insertion
Yes
Yes
Auto Low Latency Mode
Auto Low Latency Mode
Yes
Yes
Contrast
Contrast
10/10
7/10
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
10/10
8/10
Gaming Local Dimming
Gaming Local Dimming
10/100
7/100
Game HDR Brightness Score
Game HDR Brightness Score
8.1/10
9.3/10
SDR Brightness Score
SDR Brightness Score
8/10
9.4/10
HDR Brightness Score
HDR Brightness Score
8/10
9.3/10
Gray Uniformity
Gray Uniformity
10/10
6.4/10
Black Uniformity
Black Uniformity
10/10
7/10
Viewing Angle
Viewing Angle
9.6/10
6.5/10
Reflections Score
Reflections Score
10/10
9.1/10
Upscaling
Upscaling
8/10
8/10
Motion Processing
Motion Processing
8/10
8/10
Color Gamut Score
Color Gamut Score
8.3/10
7.9/10
Color Volume Score
Color Volume Score
8.1/10
8.2/10
Response Time Score
Response Time Score
10/10
8.4/10
Input Lag Score
Input Lag Score
10/10
10/10
Colors Out of the Box Score
Colors Out of the Box Score
7.9/10
9.5/10
Quality Control
Quality Control
8.8/10
8/10
Chroma Subsampling Score
Chroma Subsampling Score
8/10
8/10
SOUND
Speaker Setup
Speaker Setup
2.2
4.2.2
Speaker Power
Speaker Power
Unknown
60 W
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Bypass only
DTS:X
DTS:X
No
No
Get a great deal on the LG C3 (OLED) or the Samsung QN90A (LCD)
About LG
LG, a prominent TV brand from Korea, has played a significant role in popularizing OLED TVs. OLED technology is hailed as the future of TV technology. Their TVs employ WebOS, a proprietary smart TV software that not only offers seamless functionality but also includes gaming-specific features, earning praise from players worldwide. Often regarded as the gateway to unparalleled viewing experiences, LG's mid-range OLEDs come highly recommended, making them a worthwhile investment for those willing to stretch their budget for superior quality.
About Samsung
Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, holds the title of being the largest global TV vendor in terms of units sold. They offer a diverse lineup of TV products that cater to various budget ranges. A notable achievement in recent years is the development of Quantum Dots, a technology that enhances color reproduction, resulting in richer and more vibrant hues. Samsung TVs are well-regarded for their high manufacturing quality and user-friendly software, making them an excellent choice for consumers seeking an intuitive viewing experience.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec TVs team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest TV information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the TV team
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CEO and TVs Editor
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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TVs Expert
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